Animal rescue plans questioned surrounding Hurricane Gustav

But local animal rescue volunteers reported adequate plans to rescue animals are not in place for Hurricane Gustav.

Susan Michaels, director of animal-rescue group Pasado’s Safe Haven, said three hours after Pasado volunteers arrived in New Orleans they evacuated 67 animals from an animal shelter.

About 5 a.m. Sunday, Michaels said she got a cell phone call from Animal Rescue New Orleans. They needed 300 animals evacuated immediately.

“We never thought we would have to take animals in evacuations from shelters,” Michaels said. “Every state has to have a plan in place for peoples’ pets or they don’t get homeland security funding. I would love to see their plan.”